In response to growing air pollution concerns in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government has set up a seven-member committee to explore the feasibility of banning petrol and diesel vehicles in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), allowing only CNG and electric vehicles. The move follows increasing worries over deteriorating air quality and congestion in the city.
Committee to Submit Report in Three Months
According to a PTI report, the committee, led by retired IAS officer Sudhir Kumar Shrivastava, will conduct a study and submit a report with recommendations within three months. The panel includes Maharashtra’s transport commissioner, Mumbai’s joint police commissioner (traffic), the managing director of Mahanagar Gas Limited, the project manager of Maharashtra State Power Distribution Company Limited (Mahavitaran), the president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), and the joint transport commissioner (enforcement-1), who will serve as the member secretary. The committee also has the authority to include experts in relevant fields for additional insights.
High Court’s Concerns Over Pollution and Congestion
The decision to establish this committee comes after the Bombay High Court took suo-motu cognizance of the worsening air pollution and traffic congestion in Mumbai during a hearing on January 9. The court emphasized that vehicular emissions are a major contributor to pollution, stating that current measures to control vehicle numbers and emissions have been ineffective.
Highlighting the significant impact of traffic on air quality and overall sustainability, the court stressed the need for a comprehensive study to determine whether phasing out fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the MMR is both “appropriate and feasible.”
MMR’s Pollution Problem and the Need for Action
The MMR, which includes Mumbai and parts of Thane, Raigad, and Palghar, has been grappling with rising pollution levels, prompting authorities to consider stricter environmental policies. If implemented, a ban on petrol and diesel vehicles would mark a major shift toward greener transportation in one of India’s most densely populated urban regions.
With the committee expected to submit its report in three months, its findings and recommendations could pave the way for significant policy changes aimed at reducing emissions and improving air quality in Mumbai.
Sources By Agencies
